Pasha Automotive Services signs import agreement with Chrysler

Company at Port’s Terminal 4 is looking to fill 10 positions to handle increased traffic

By Dan Hammock • August 7, 2017 7:00 pm
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The ribbon is cut as the vessel Rio Nevado unloads the first of what is expected to be 500 cars a month through a new agreement between Pasha Automotive and Chrysler. Holding the scissors at center are Pasha Port of Grays Harbor General Manager Penny Eubanks and Tim Ryker, Pasha’s Stevedoring and Terminals Operations Manager. From left are Loretta Thomas for WorkSource, Georgia Bravos from Jodesha Broadcasting, Rio Nevado Trade Manager Samantha Cibelli, Eubanks, Ryker, Greater Grays Harbor Inc. CEO Dru Garson, Hunter Larson and Eric Barre from the Aberdeen KeyBank branch. Behind Eubanks is Port Commissioner Stan Pinnick, behind Ryker is Mike Brown, a 40-year veteran of the Port and president of ILWU Local 24. To his left is Port Commissioner Chuck Caldwell.
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The ribbon is cut as the vessel Rio Nevado unloads the first of what is expected to be 500 cars a month through a new agreement between Pasha Automotive and Chrysler. Holding the scissors at center are Pasha Port of Grays Harbor General Manager Penny Eubanks and Tim Ryker, Pasha’s Stevedoring and Terminals Operations Manager. From left are Loretta Thomas for WorkSource, Georgia Bravos from Jodesha Broadcasting, Rio Nevado Trade Manager Samantha Cibelli, Eubanks, Ryker, Greater Grays Harbor Inc. CEO Dru Garson, Hunter Larson and Eric Barre from the Aberdeen KeyBank branch. Behind Eubanks is Port Commissioner Stan Pinnick, behind Ryker is Mike Brown, a 40-year veteran of the Port and president of ILWU Local 24. To his left is Port Commissioner Chuck Caldwell.

Automotive import group Pasha is growing its business at the company’s Port of Grays Harbor facility, expanding its shipments of Chrysler vehicles by about 500 per month and adding another 10 jobs to the 90 it provides now.

Chrysler has been a partner of Pasha’s for nearly a decade, but this new agreement will bring three more models to the terminal — Fiat, Jeep Compass and Dodge Journey — which will increase ship traffic by a vessel or two a month and add to their already growing import business, which includes Chevrolet, GMC, Volkswagen and Nissan, to name a few.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Monday to celebrate the company’s latest agreement with Chrysler.

“With all the new businesses coming to the Harbor I am looking for 10 new people,” said Pasha Automotive Grays Harbor facility General Manager Penny Eubanks.

Eubanks also said Pasha is currently finalizing an agreement with Ford that could bring another 500 vehicles through the Port’s Terminal 4 each month. She expects an announcement about that agreement coming in the next couple of months.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Terminal 4, where the massive cargo ship Rio Nevado was unloading the first shipment of cars. The ship is around 550 feet long and 100 feet across and can pack around 500 vehicles. The ship’s trade manager, Samantha Cibelli, was on hand to take part in the festivities.

Also on hand were representatives from the local longshore union and stevedore companies, representatives from Greater Grays Harbor Inc., including CEO Dru Garson, and port commissioners Stan Pinnick and Chuck Caldwell. Molly Bouch, President of PAWS of Grays Harbor, brought along the organization’s latest addition, a hot dog vending cart. This day it was used to feed hungry longshoremen and local dignitaries; it will be used in the future to raise awareness and funds for the organization. Eubanks is also on the PAWS of Grays Harbor board of directors.